The Chicago Cubs are the second major league team to release an It Gets Better video, following the San Francisco Giants' lead.
The Cubs' 60-second video features multiple speakersplayers, coaches and team owner Laura Ricketts, an open lesbian.
Manager Mike Quade, raised in Chicago's northern suburbs, is the first speaker in the video, which also features Ryan Dempster, Marlon Byrd, Darwin Barney and coach/former Cubs outfielder Bob Dernier.
Dernier addresses the team's message at one point directly to LGBT kids and teens.
"The Chicago Cubs organization celebrates you for exactly who you are, gay or straight," Quade said.
Barney said: "To all kids who are struggling, know that you have a caring community by your side," and Byrd then finished the sentence, "and there is light at the end of the tunnel."
Ricketts is the most emotional in the video: "We know that it can get really tough; I've been there; so many of us have been there."
The video ends with It Gets Better on the famed red marquee from outside Wrigley Field.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcpkRL_5IYk&feature=youtu.be
Windy City Times will present Pride Day at Wrigley Field Sunday, Sept. 4, 1:20 p.m. when the Chicago Cubs take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. The sales of tickets for the Labor Day weekend game will benefit six local LGBT and AIDS charities.
Pride Day is presented in partnership with the national gay softball world series taking place through Sept. 3 in the Windy City. Thousands of athletes will be in Chicago as part of the annual NAGAAA world series tournament.
The organizations which will receive a portion of the proceeds are: AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Center on Halsted, Equality Illinois, Howard Brown Health Center/Lesbian Community Care Project, GLAAD Chicago Leadership Council and Lambda Legal.
The media partners for Pride Day at Wrigley are Windy City Times, Nightspots, GoPride and Grab Magazine.
Tickets are $50, and they are all for bleacher seats. The price includes tax, shipping, and a portion donated to charity. Deadline for ticket purchase is Aug. 15, 2011.
Purchase tickets at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com/WrigleyPride.